Thomas Tuchel gave his reasons for stepping down as Bayern Munich manager in the summer as the German boss bemoaned his side's long injury list.
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Tuchel to leave Bayern in the summer Opened up on decision to join German outfit Blamed recurrent injuries for misfortune (C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
Despite his contract running until 2025, Bayern's decision to part ways with Tuchel comes on the heels of a three-game losing streak in all competitions, compounded by their second-place standing in the Bundesliga, trailing eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Reflecting on his tenure at Bayern, Tuchel emphasized the club's unfortunate run of injuries, which hindered their ability to maintain peak performance. He also revealed that his decision to take charge was taken in haste and admitted that he has failed to bring consistency to the team.
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When asked by reporters if it was a mistake to join Bayern, Tuchel said: "It makes no sense to look back. There was a call back then and we decided to do it within 48 hours because we were confident and wanted to do it. We got many points, we broke a few records.
"It gets forgotten that we were extremely unlucky with injuries. We are and were self-confident enough in the coaching staff to be convinced of ourselves. However, we were not able to consistently bring the team to a higher level. That's why we're going separate ways in the summer."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Tuchel made it clear that while he may not fully understand or agree with the club's decision to let him go, the clarity on his future brings freedom, allowing him to focus on the remaining matches without the burden of long-term consequences.
"It does not matter if I understand the decision of the club or whether I am happy with it," Tuchel said.
"The only thing that matters now is that there is clarity. Clarity brings freedom and it is good for the matches and the training. More freedom for the coach on how to act. You don't have to think about the long-term consequences of your choices. You can be a bit more reckless."
WHAT TUCHEL SAID ABOUT BAYERN'S PROBLEMS
Bayern's performance has been erratic as they have failed to maintain their usual dominance in German football. Defeats to lower-tier teams like Saarbruecken in the German Cup and a first-leg defeat in their Champions League round-of-16 tie against Lazio have compounded the team's challenges. The recent 3-2 loss to VfL Bochum forced the team management to decide on his future. However, the manager believes that he is not the "only problem" in the club.
"I never felt that we as coaching staff stopped reaching the team," Tuchel said. "But we have a discrepancy from training to matches and the coach is responsible. I don't think I am the only problem but I accept my responsibility. I am not satisfied with the way we play and have been unhappy for quite some time.
"Now we have a new situation but the situation has been solved and communicated but I don't think I am the only problem."